SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It’s a position that lines up mere feet from the quarterback. It’s one that’s been conspicuous in the San Francisco 49ers’ biggest moments under Kyle Shanahan. And, heading into Thursday’s preseason finale, it’s not resolved.

In fact, you could argue the team is further away from a solution at left guard today, two days after training camp ended and six days before the 49ers board a flight to Australia, than it was when the summer session began a month ago.

The most experienced candidate, Robert Jones, is out with a calf injury, although Shanahan is optimistic Jones will be back at practice next week. Another, Brett Toth, has been dealing with a concussion since early August. And Connor Colby, who seemed comfortably in the lead at the start of training camp, has largely been relegated to the second-team unit in recent weeks. Even Austen Pleasants, who drew more snaps at left guard in recent weeks, is now battling a knee injury.

That’s left Carver Willis, a fourth-round rookie, taking the lion’s share of the first-team repetitions over the past two weeks. Willis is in line to start his second straight preseason game today in Las Vegas.

All the snaps Willis has been getting lately underscore two things:

First, he badly needs them. He played tackle exclusively in college at Washington, and converting to guard in Shanahan’s system is not easy. Colton McKivitz, who was also a college tackle, tried it when he was a rookie in 2020 and was cut the following season. When he returned to the team, it was at tackle, his position ever since.

“It’s extremely hard,” McKivitz said. “I went through it as a rookie, and it didn’t work out for me.”

All the repetitions Willis is getting this close to the season, however, also show how much the 49ers believe in him. His first 11-on-11 snap with the first-string offense two weeks ago was rough. He gave up a sack to defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and allowed a second one later in that practice.

But he’s improved since, and there’s hope that if he maintains his current trajectory, the 49ers will be able to count on him during the regular season.

“He’s just got to keep getting better every day,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said. “But I like where he’s at. I like the way he’s working. He’s developing. He’s a young player, and we’ve just got to keep pushing him.”

Outsiders tend to fixate on pass protection when evaluating offensive linemen. The 49ers, however, scrutinize run blocking, especially following a season in which the team’s per-carry average, a robust 4.52 yards in the first eight seasons under Shanahan, dropped to 3.78 yards. It was the first time in his tenure the average fell below 4 yards.

Carver emphasized that the 49ers’ run-blocking scheme is an extremely precise choreography — a Chorus Line but with 315-pound defensive tackles trying to blow up the performance.

His biggest issue right now is that he’s slightly out of step. Or in his words: “My angles in the run game aren’t very complementary of the guys next to me.”

A false step by the left guard on a running play isn’t something a casual observer usually picks up on, but it is obvious — like a sour note during a piano recital — to an expert like offensive line coach Chris Foerster.

“There are so many plays where you can see that the four guys next to me — their hips are on a different angle than mine,” Willis said. “For me right now, it’s studying that aiming point and running on our angles, setting our backside shoulder, all that kind of stuff.”

One benefit to playing left guard for the 49ers, he said, is that he has Trent Williams, who’s played 11,334 career snaps, to his left and Jake Brendel (4,376 career snaps) to the right. And that means he often gets real-time coaching in the huddle.

“Those guys have been so great,” Willis said. “They’ll tell you when you did well. Be like, ‘Hey, great job on that. That’s exactly what we need.’ Or it’s, ‘Hey, come on. You have to see that quicker.’ Or, ‘You’ve got to get hands on the guy.’ I’ve got a combined 23 years of experience next to me. That’s huge. Our vets have been so helpful.”

Odds and ends

• Shanahan said there might be “a couple” of Week 1 starters on the field to begin today’s game, but that it will be similar to the preseason opener against Tennessee, when few starters played.

• He said he hopes defensive end Nick Bosa, who hasn’t practiced since Aug. 3 due to knee tendinitis, will practice next week. The team will practice Monday through Wednesday before traveling to Melbourne, Australia, later Wednesday.

• Receivers Mike Evans and Jacob Cowing missed Tuesday’s practice with groin strains. They are on track to return next week, Shanahan said. He gave a similar timetable for quarterback Kurtis Rourke (ribs), cornerback Upton Stout (hip flexor) and Pleasants (knee).

• Offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (high ankle), receiver Christian Kirk (calf) and running back Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) are among the candidates to begin the season on an injury list, like physically unable to perform or injured reserve.

Thursday night’s matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers might have less juice than the one coming two months from now. The Raiders’ former cross-city rivals visit Allegiant Stadium for the fourth consecutive preseason, the final exhibition game for both teams. On Nov. 8, the foes will meet again when Las Vegas returns to the Bay Area for the first time in the regular season since the franchise’s relocation from Oakland.

That resumption of the Battle of the Bay will be rife with drama, but there are also high stakes Thursday night — for specific players. While many Raiders have already solidified their spots on the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s roster cutdown deadline, a few competitions remain unresolved. Thursday’s performances will be a factor in the coaching staff’s final decisions.

“These game reps are the most valuable ones that we can use,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said. “It’s very helpful (for evaluating) many guys.”

As the Raiders line it up one last time before the games count, here are the players with the most to gain — and the most to lose — in the preseason finale.

Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers

Powers-Johnson and Rogers are both going to make the roster. But Thursday will be a pivotal game in their battle for the starting role at right guard.

“This game will be really important for that battle,” Kubiak said. “I know both those guys are going to play this year. We’re counting on both of them, as well as a lot of other guys. So, this competition has only made them better and our team better.”

Powers-Johnson began training camp as the sole right guard working with the starters. But after the first few practices, Rogers began rotating in with the ones. That has continued throughout training camp and the preseason.

Powers-Johnson appears to have a slight advantage in the competition. He was in for presumed starting quarterback Kirk Cousins’ lone drive in the preseason opener, and he’s usually the first guard out there in practices. He was also the Week 1 starter at right guard last season. But the Raiders are pleased with Rogers’ development going into his second season, with coaches complimenting his preparation.

“He has all the talent that you’re looking for,” Kubiak said of Rogers. “We’ve just got to keep getting him better. I like how he works, like the kind of teammate that he is, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Both guards figure to get solid work Thursday against the 49ers. And while one will effectively be slotted as the starter ahead of the opener against the Miami Dolphins, expect the competition to continue throughout the season.

Cian Slone and Patrick Johnson

The Raiders have a concrete top four at the edge position with Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce and rookie Keyron Crawford. But a fifth spot is likely up for grabs, and with Brennan Jackson going on season-ending injured reserve, Slone and Johnson are evidently vying for it.

Slone has impressed the staff since signing as an undrafted free agent in the spring. He’s gotten to work with the second unit frequently in practices, and he had a strong preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals, notching a sack and three total tackles.

“His disposition is relentless,” defensive line coach Travis Smith said of Slone. “His physicality shows up day in and day out, whether it’s setting edges or it’s rushing with power or converting with a little bit of speed.”

Johnson signed with the team at the start of training camp after spending parts of the last five seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. It took Johnson extra effort to get up to speed, but he has excelled in his preseason opportunities, earning sacks in both games.

“(He’s a) very instinctive player,” defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said of Johnson. “Tough, very smart. I think his play speaks for itself.”

Both Slone and Johnson can continue to make their case for a roster spot with strong preseason finales. Special-teams opportunities are also key, as each will have to show value there.

Dareke Young, Brandon Johnson and Deven Thompkins

Like edge, the Raiders’ receiver position has a steady top four in Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and rookie Malik Benson. Dont’e Thornton Jr. figured to be the fifth guy in the mix, but an injury that held him out of preseason action makes him a potential cut or IR candidate. That leaves the door open for one — or maybe two — of Young, Johnson and Thompkins to make the roster.

Young is squarely in position to earn a spot, given his experience playing for Kubiak and special-teams value. The Raiders signed the veteran receiver this offseason after he played four years in Seattle, his last with Kubiak as his offensive coordinator. While Young has just four career catches, he has 697 special-teams snaps under his belt and has been a key figure in coordinator Joe DeCamillis’ units so far. A good preseason finale could earn him more of a shot on offense.

Johnson and Thompkins were signed at the start of training camp as well, putting them behind veterans Shedrick Jackson and Phillip Dorsett and even undrafted free agents Chase Roberts and E.J. Williams Jr. But Johnson and Thompkins have been among the top playmakers with the twos in practice, and Johnson’s 33-yard catch set up the game-winning score in the preseason win over the Houston Texans.

A big play or two from Johnson or Thompkins against the 49ers could make Kubiak and his staff think a bit harder about their standing.

Jordan Meredith

Meredith started 11 games for the Raiders last year, but as the preseason has worn on, he’s tumbled down the depth chart. The veteran served as rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s center with the twos to begin training camp. But after a few practices, the Raiders moved third-round rookie Trey Zuhn III into that position, pushing Meredith to second-team left guard and third-team center. Meredith did serve as the second-team center in both preseason games, with Zuhn playing right tackle. But after returning from Houston, Zuhn has moved back to center, and Meredith has been rotating with Atonio Mafi at left guard with the twos.

Meredith’s positional versatility and experience on the left side give him value, but he’ll likely have to show something Thursday to earn a depth spot.

Greedy Vance

Vance is another player who seems to have fallen out of favor. The second-year defensive back served as the Raiders’ second-team nickel through the start of training camp and the first preseason game. He gave up some big passing plays against the Cardinals and wasn’t much of a factor in the run game, leading Las Vegas to make some changes.

The Raiders mixed Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Tristin McCollum in at nickel against the Texans, eating into Vance’s reps. In the practices since, Johnson, the fifth-round rookie, has been the first nickel working with the twos, leaving Vance to rotate in afterward.

Johnson appears to be trending toward a roster spot. With his opportunities in Thursday’s game, Vance will have to improve to claim one of the last spots on the team.

Decamerion Richardson

Thursday will be just the second game action Richardson sees, as he missed the preseason opener for the birth of his child. The limited snaps make his performance against the 49ers even more important.

Richardson worked primarily with the twos during training camp and looked solid, playing tight coverage and posting a few pass breakups in practices. But he’s been relegated behind rookies Hezekiah Masses and Jermod McCoy in recent practices, both of whom seem to have locked-in spots behind Eric Stokes and Darien Porter.

Richardson would be the team’s fifth corner, and it’s plausible he’s battling with Vance across positions for a roster spot. Their performance — and the team’s preference for where they want more depth — could determine the final cuts.

Cherki seemed in good spirits on Tuesday evening when posing for pictures and signing autographs for fans at the PFA awards in Manchester, where he was named in the Team of the Year and nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.

His goal contributions last weekend mean he has now provided 12 assists from open play since the start of last season – more than any other Premier League player during that period.

But despite his creativity, Cherki is yet to become a regular starter for City.

Under former manager Pep Guardiola last season he made 33 Premier League appearances – but 14 of those were as a substitute.

At this summer’s World Cup, he played a bit-part role – albeit he is competing against a star-studded array of France forwards.

His only start was against England in the third-fourth place play-off and he was replaced at half-time with his side 4-0 down.

That took his game time to 124 minutes across the whole tournament and videos emerged of Cherki showing apparent displeasure at coach Didier Deschamps.

Maresca admitted after Sunday’s victory that Cherki is not a man to hide his feelings.

“Rayan is quite a nice and clear boy, if he is not happy he wants to show it. If he’s next to me and he’s not happy, you all realise that he is not happy because he is doing anything just to show that he is not happy.”

In City’s recent documentary on Amazon, chief executive Ferran Soriano revealed there were question marks over Cherki’s attitude before he was signed from Lyon for £30m in June 2025.

“The information on Cherki was not so positive, I will be very honest,” said Soriano. “Everybody knew about his abilities, but there was this idea that he was chaotic.”

Maresca was seen striding towards Cherki at full-time on Sunday, before placing his arms around the player’s shoulders and appearing to relay some sort of lecture.

What was said between the pair has not been made public and when asked afterwards if the forward would start a game soon, the Italian replied by saying “absolutely, yeah”.

Cherki’s biggest challenge this season might be to keep his emotions in check and his spirits high if the flamboyant but fiery playmaker has to wait longer than he feels he should for a regular place in City’s starting line-up.